Staff Sergeant Patbouvier Enrique “Bobby” Ortiz (1964-1991) was a longtime resident of Queens who was killed in action during Operation Desert Shield. Born in Munich where his father, a U.S. Army 1st Sergeant was stationed, Ortiz was raised in Richmond Hill. In May 1983, at age 19, he followed his father's footsteps by enlisting in Army. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. His unit was one of first to be deployed to the Persian Gulf in Operation Desert Shield. On February 27, 1991, he volunteered to go on a rescue mission to find a pilot who had been shot down behind enemy lines. Ortiz was flying in a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, searching for the downed pilot, when the craft was shot down. Ortiz was killed, along with helicopter's pilot and co-pilot. He was 27 years old.